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Israel to Form Emergency Government: PM
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak said on Thursday that he would undertake efforts to form an emergency government to rally national support in face of the current situation of crisis.
At a press conference held after the bombardment of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) against Palestinian targets, Barak called on all political parties and factions to put aside differences and join a national unity government to cope with the current difficulties.
The prime minister said that "everything else such as the portfolios dwarfed" in comparison what might happen in the days ahead.
He refused to disclose what posts he will give to the right-wing opposition Likud leader Ariel Sharon, whose visit to the disputed Temple Mount, known to the Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif inside the Old City of Jerusalem, sparked the latest Israeli-Palestinian violent clashes.
Barak announced that the round of attacks against the Palestinian targets in response to the killing of three Israeli soldiers by the Palestinians finished and that the Israeli security forces will do everything "we can to get through the days ahead of us."
The prime minister said he was horrified by what the Palestinians did to the three soldiers and that he ordered the IDF action against specific targets with minimum casualties.
He accused Palestinian National Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat of having no interest in peace, citing the fact the latter has released dozens of jailed members of the Palestinian militant Hamas movement, who had engaged terrorist attacks against Israelis.
Barak said that Israel will continue to pursue its goal of security and peace. He urged settlers in the West Bank and Gaza to demonstrate restraint and warned that those who breach the law will receive severe punishment.
The prime minister, who has been very determined to reach a peace deal with the Palestinians, declined to predict what can happen ahead but said, "We will know how to respond."
He said "we can not force the other side for peace" but warned that if there is a confrontation, he will continue to enforce the separation measures, which include the closure of the Palestinian territories, banning the Palestinians from entering Israel as well as other links between the two sides.
The current round of Israeli-Palestinian clashes have been dragging on for 15 days, which has cast dark clouds over the prospects of the peace talks.
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